Transportable tank



E. A. RUDIGIER TRANSPORTABLE TANK Nov. 24 1925.

Filed Nov. 16, 1923 FIG. 1.

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Patented Nov. 24, 19 25. I

UNITED STATES 1,562,991 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. RUDIGIER, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD DE-VELOPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OE DELAWARE.

TRANSPORTAIBLE TANK.

Application filed November 16, 1.923. Serial No. 675,077.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. RUDIGIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,have invented new anduseful Improvements in Transportable Tanks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to transportable tanks and more particularlytanks for carrying materials which are ordinarily diflicult to unload inliquid state by reason of their high melting point. The invention willbe understood from the following description, taken in connection withthe accompanylng drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal verticalsection of a tank-car showing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end View, on larger scale; and V Fig. 3 is a section ontheline III of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the scalebeing that of Fig.- 2.

i A tank 1 is mounted on any desired means of transport, for examplerailway-trucks 2 and frame 3, and is provided with a top manhole orinlet 4 and a bottom outlet 5 preferably located at the center. Theoutlet 5 is guarded by any suitable valve'or closure, the detail ofwhich is not material to the'present invention, and preferably iselongated transversely of the tank and affords generally a largeropening than customary with tanks for petroleum distillates. Surroundingthe tank, or at least about its greater portion, is a spaced wall 6forming a jacket for a heating fluid, as steam, inlet connection 7allowing supply of such fluid and connections 8 being provided at thebottom for outlet and drainage. A'covering of heat-insulation 9surrounds the jacket and tank ordinarily, but may be omitted wheredesired. Traversing the tank from end to end are guides 10 upon whichare slidably mounted a pair of pistons 11 one piston for travel in eachhalf of the tank In the case of relatively short tanks a single pistonwill suflice however. Stuffingboxes 12 are provided on the pistons formaking adequately tight packing joints on the guldes. At each end of thetank back of the piston is a connection 13 for supply of compressed airor other fluid for propelling the pistons to the center of the tank, andcross supports 14 may be arranged for the guides and to act also ascenter-stops for the pistons. By making the guides 10 tubular, (or atleast hollow in cases where they are not of circular cross-section) andjoiningthe ends to the inlet and outlet connections 15, 16, steam orother heating fluid may also be thus supplied therethrough so as to heatthe interior of the tank.

In use, material to be shipped, as for example an oxidized asphalt, isrun into the tank while molten, the pistons 11 being back in the ends ofthe tank as shown in Fig. 1. After arrival at the unloading trestle overa receiving tank at the destination, a steam line is attached to theconnection 15, and the outletl6 and the drains 8 being properly openedor connected to drain lines, steam is supplied to the tank jacket and tothe hollow guides 10 until the asphalt softens sufliciently. With theoutlet 5 open, a fluid under pressure, preferably compressed air, issupplied by suitable hose or lines attached to the connections 13, andthe pistons 11 are forced along toward the center thus discharging thesoftened load through outlet 5. In this manner highly oxidized as haltsand stiff pitches can be handled as easibly in tank-cars as materials oflow melting point, or such other materials may be handled in weatherotherwise prohibitive. After discharge of the load the pistons arereturned to the ends of the tank, for instance by a fluid under pressureadmitted through a central connection 17 the outlet 5 being closed andpressure behind the pistons being released through connections 13, andthe tank is ready for another load.

While I have described my invention by reference to certain specificdetails, it will be understood that this is illustrative and notlimitative, and changes may be made which come within the spirit andscope of to end, inlet and outlet means for the ciroulation of a heatingfluid through said guides, a pair of pistons fitting the interior of thetank mounted to slide on said guides and having stuffing-boxes thereon,a connection at each end off the tank backfiofaach (piston for su l o apropelling ui an supports f2}; the guides midway of the tank arranged toact also as center stops for the pistons.

2. A transportable tank having a central top manhole inlet and a centralbottom outlet, heating means about said tank, a" covering of heatinsulation surrounding said heating means and tank, a plurality oftubular guides traversing said tank from end to end, inlet and outletmeans for the circulation of a heating fluid through said guides, a pairof pistons fitting the interior of the tank mounted to slide on saidguides and having stuffing-boxes thereon, a connection at each end ofthe tank back of each piston for su ply of a propelling fluid, andsupports or the guides midway of the tank arranged to act also ascenter-stops for the pistons. a

3. A transportable tank having a top infrom end to end, inlet and outletmeans for the circulation of a heating fluid through said guides, a pairof pistons fitting the interior of the tank mounted to slide on saidguides and having stufling-boxes thereon, and means for actuating saidpistons.

41. A transportable tank having a top inlet and bottom outlet, heatingmeans about said tank, 'a plurality of hollow guides traversing saidtank, inlet and outlet means for the circulation of a heating fluidthrough said guides, a piston fitting the interior of the tank mountedto slide on said guides, and means for actuating said piston.

5. A transportable tank having guide members traversing said tank, apiston within the tank mounted to slide on said members, and means foractuating said piston.

EDWARD A. RUDIGIER.

